THE CARDIOVASCULAR bene;ts of eating
oily ;sh are largely provided by polyunsaturated fatty acids that exist in the oil, speci;cally omega- 3 fatty acids, which can’t be
produced by the body, so your sole source
is the food you eat or omega- 3 supplements.
;e two types of omega- 3 found in oily ;sh
are EPA and DHA.

Recent research indicates that eating
oily ;sh with omega- 3 fatty acids, such as
salmon, trout and herring, may help lower
your risk of death from coronary heart
disease, according to the American Heart
Association (AHA;
heart.org).

;e AHA recommends that everyone
should eat at least two fatty-;sh meals
(baked or broiled) weekly. People who have
heart disease should eat a fatty-;sh meal
daily. ;e reality is it may be di;cult to
adhere to a strictly regimented diet. ;at’s
where ;sh oil supplements can help by providing an easy way to meet your omega- 3
fatty acid dietary requirement.

To learn more about Costco Pharmacy, click on the “Pharmacy”
link at Costco.com or call toll-free 1-800-607-6861.

An aspirin a day PHARMACY Update

Quality matters. Choose products with
the “USP Veri;ed Mark” on the label, which
means the product has been tested by the
U.S. Pharmacopeia, a non-governmental
standards-setting authority, for purity and
potency. While USP veri;cation is a quality
standard, its program does help ensure that
supplements contain the ingredients stated
on the label, in the amounts listed, and that
they meet what USP considers “acceptable
limits” for contaminants, including PCBs
and heavy metals, which are sometimes
found in ;sh.

Some ;sh oil supplements can cause a
;shy a;ertaste or ;shy burp. Gradually
increasing the dose or bedtime administration seems to help some people. ;ere are
omega supplements formulated speci;cally
to minimize this unwanted e;ect. Enteric-coated ;sh oil so;gels can help with this,
as can krill oil so;gels, to name a few.

daily requirement, provide much of the
additional nutritional value available in
whole ;sh. ;ink of these products as ;sh in
a bottle: omegas 3, 5, 6, 7, 9 and 11 as well as
vitamins A and D;. ;ey are manufactured
using a cold-press extraction process, which
protects the oil from damaging high heat and
eliminates the need for additional re;ning
and chemical treatments.

See your local Costco or visit Costco.com
and search “supplements” for a complete
selection of ;sh oil supplements.

AN AGE;RELATED Eye Disease Study
(AREDS) released in 2001 and sponsored
by the federal government’s National Eye
Institute found that taking higher levels of
certain vitamins and zinc can reduce the risk
of developing advanced age-related macular
degeneration (AMD) by about 25 percent.

The specific daily amounts of antioxidants
and zinc used by the study researchers were:

Copper was added to the AREDS formulations containing zinc to prevent copper-deficiency anemia, a condition associated with
high levels of zinc intake.

In 2006, the National Eye Institute began a
second study called AREDS2 to determine if
they could improve the AREDS formulation.
The study results, which were released in 2013,
found that lutein and zeaxanthin ( 10 mg/2 mg)
together appeared to be a safe and effective
alternative to beta carotene. It’s safer for smokers, because beta carotene use has been linked
to a heightened risk of lung cancer.

Visit Costco or Costco.com to see the
complete selection of vitamins and supplements. Members can also schedule eye exams
at Costco Optical Centers.

Age-relatedeye disease

CLINICAL DATA SHOWS that a daily
low dose of aspirin can help prevent the
reoccurrence of a heart attack or stroke,
according to the Food and Drug Administration (
fda.gov). Aspirin is also helpful
when used daily to lower the risk of heart
attack and clot-related strokes in patients
who have cardiovascular disease. Before
beginning daily aspirin use, consult your
doctor to discuss the following issues:

•Personal and family medical history

•Use of other prescription and over-the-counter medications

•Use of other products, such as dietary
supplements and vitamins

•Allergies, and anything that a;ects
your ability to use the medicine

•Bene;ts and side e;ects, as well as
other options and their risks and bene;ts

•Dosage and directions for use

•How to tell if the medicine is workingSee your local Costco for a completeselection of aspirin.